Self-locking adjustable screw device



Jan. 10, 1967 M. A MOSKOVITZ SELF-LOCKING ADJUSTABLE SCREW DEVICE Filed 001;.

FIG. '2.

INVENTOR. MILTON A. Mosmovrrz A T TOR/V57 United States Patent 3,297,949 SELF-LUCKENG ADJUSTAELE @(IREW DEVHCE Milton A. Moslrovitz, 7 (Iliapel Hill, St. Louis County, Mo. 63128 Filed Oct. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 31341916 7 Claims. (Eli. 13754t)) This invention relates to improvements in machine elements and more particularly to a screw device that is of such a type as to be self-locking in all positions of its adjustment, and to remain so adjustably interlocked with precision against all vibration and impact that might tend to dislodge it.

Another object of my invention is to construct a device of the kind described that will serve the added function of providing an effective seal against unwanted leakage of fluids therepast at all intervals of the adjustment range.

An added object of the invention is to so construct such a device that its several parts will be permanently interlocked together to prevent rotary or other movement relatively therebetween.

Further objects of my invention are to so construct such a device that it will be neat and attractive in appearance, of but few parts permanently assembled together as a unit, simple and economical in construction, and which may be used and re-used repeatedly without loss of effectiveness.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described, and the uses thereof, will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, all of which will be more clearly pointed out in the following disclosure.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and the uses set forth, as will be readily understood by the following specification.

In the drawings, wherein like or corresponding parts are represented by like reference characters throughout the views,

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view, showing the device in operative adjusted position in a cooperating mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the device before assembly; and

FIGURE 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional detail, showing the device in its initial and in its adjusted position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 represents the sleeve or shell portion of any selected machine member, with which the control device is intended to cooperably associate, said sleeve having a chamher 2 therein that has female threads 3 forming the bounding peripheral wall of the chamber of said sleeve adjacent one end of the latter. An inlet 4 leads into said chamber from any source of fluid supply, and there is a discharge outlet 5 from the chamber. A ball 6 is movable within said chamber to control passage of fluid between said inlet and outlet, and normally seating on the bottom wall of said chamber to close the passageway of the fluid during normal operation but to lift from its seat when the fluid pressure exceeds a predetermined amount.

Said machine member is here shown as in the nature mamas Patented Jan. in, rear ice of a by-pass valve structure, being closed. under normal pressure, and permitting by-pass of fluid at excess pres sure. A spring 7 is arranged within the chamber, exerting axial pressure against a plate 8 that is in constant contact with said ball, so that the degree of spring pressure will determine the maximum pressure that the fluid must reach before the ball is momentarily unseated against said spring pressure.

Sometimes there is an adjustment of spring pressure provided through the use of screws that engage the spring means, and usually with jam nuts or a keying arrangement to hold the spring means in adjusted positions. However, such adjustment holding means are not simple in construction, nor sufficiently positive and accurate in operation, and they usually permit leakage of fluid from said chamber.

Although the device of my invention is shown herein as being used with a valve structure, it is to be pointed out that this is but one of the many different types wherein the device may be employed, the same being just as well adapted to many other uses.

The device includes a lead-screw element 9 of a strong inflexible material, as of steel, having male threads 10 on its peripheral bounding wall to cooperably engage with said female threads of the chamber, as shown, and in this instance provides an upper wall or back stop against which the spring engages.

A ring or washer 11 of resiliently yieldable material, such as of nylon or other suitable plastic having good elastic recovery or memory, is superimposed on the top face of said element 9 and is of such size and shape that its external peripheral face is of slightly greater diameter than the minor diameter or inner crests of the female threads of the chamber, as shown most clearly by the dotted lines in FIG. 3, and in this instance said peripheral surface of the ring is preferably smooth or unthreaded. The outer bottom corner of said ring is provided with a bevel 21 to serve as a lead-in portion during advancement of the ring into the chamber. Said ring may have one or more grooves or notches 12 provided into its top face, as shown most clearly in FIG. 2.

A plate 13, of a strong inflexible material, as of steel, is arranged above said element 9, with its peripheral portion provided with an axial flange 14 and a terminal horizontal flange 15 extending radially outwardly from said flange 14, said flanges being so sized as to neatly receive said plastic ring and tightly engage the latter at its top wall and inner wall, the terminal edge of tthe flange 15 being spaced away from the threaded portion of the chamber, as shown. To prevent relative movement between said ring and plate the latter has lugs 16 provided in its rim, spaced apart to cooperatingly seat in the notches 12 in the plastic ring.

To hold the plate and element 9 tightly together against any relative movement, a rivet or other suitable fitting 17, is arranged with knurls or splines 18 on its shank portion and is forced into tight-fit relationship with said plate and element 9, one end of said fitting having a toolengageable head 19 and its other end radially expanded or peened into a counterbore in the underside of the element 9, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

To further insure rigid interlocking of the various parts of the device, a serrated saw-toothed lock washer 20 may be interposed, if so desired, between the head of said fl tting 19 and said plate 13. From the foregoing, it is seen that the various interlocks insure that there will be no relative rotation nor other relative movement, permitted between any two parts of the screw device.

In use, the assembled screw device is pre-assembled into an integral permanently interlocked unit, from the parts shown in FIG. 2, and it is then ready for operative positioning into the threaded chamber of the selected machine part.

As illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 3, the lead-in portion or screw 9 is screwed into the open end 3 of the chambered opening, of course carrying the follower elements therewith, into said opening. The lead-in corner 21 of the plastic .ring 11 enters said chamber, and then the outer peripheral wall of the plastic ring engages said female threads. Continued advancement of the element 9 into the chamber will crowd said ring into engagement with said female threads, as indicated in full lines in FIG. 3, said ring deforming or extruding into the voids of the female threads in such a manner as to form a good interlock therewith and an effective seal thereat.

The desired degree of tightness of such interlock between the ring 11 and the chamber can be varied in several ways, as by changing the amount of oversize of the ring, or varying the lengths of engagement, the degree of sharpness of the crests of the female threads, pitch of thread-s, etc., as well as by variations in the relative diameters of the mating parts.

Because plastic of this kind has good elastic memory or recovery from its deformation, it can be used and reused repeatedly without loss of its function.

It is apparent that the screw unit Will stay fixed after each interlock, at whatever point it is positioned, and provides a very simple means of adjustment as desired or needed.

The plate 13 may be made substantially planar if desired, as in the form of a washer, the only basic requirement being that it be shaped and sized to sufficiently confine the plastic ring, provide proper engagement therewith and be able to crowd or exert the ring radially outwardly into threaded engagement with the chamber upon rotation of the screw and the advancement axially of the latter.

I claim:

1. A self-locking and sealing device for adjustably controlling the pressure-seating of a first member against displacement in the chamber of a second member that is provided with an internally-threaded opening thereinto from one end to communicate with said chamber, said device including a relatively inflexible first element provided with peripheral male threads to cooperate with the threads of said opening, a resiliently yieldably deformable ring superimposed on said first element to cooperably engage said female threads but which is initially of larger external diameter than that of the inner crests of the latter threads, a retainer superimposed on said ring, there being interlocking lugs and notches provided therebetween, and means permanently interlocking said retainer and first element together as an integral unit and whereby said device may be operably adjusted.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that there is a toothed washer interlocking said retainer and said means, and which aids in preventing rotary or axial movement relatively between said first element, retainer and ring and permanently interlocking means.

3. A self-locking adjustable screw device for repeatable installation in a threaded opening comprising a resiliently yieldable member having a cylindrical side wall larger in diameter than the minor diameter of the internal threads of the opening in which the device is to be installed, and a rigid member positioned axially adjacent to the yieldable member, the rigid member having external threads complementary to and engageable with t the internal threads of the opening, and means for conmeeting the rigid member to the yieldable member and for causing the yieldable member to rotate with the rigid member and yield to form threads mating tightly with the internal threads of the opening when the rigid member is threaded into the opening, the edge of the side of the yieldable member which first enters the opening being beveled to a reduced diameter to facilitate entry into the opening and starting of threads in the yieldable member.

4. A self-locking adjustable screw device for repeatable installation in a threaded opening comprising a resiliently yieldable member having a cylindrical side wall larger in diameter than the minor diameter of the internal threads of the opening in which the device is to be installed, and a rigid member positioned axially adjacent to the yieldable member, the rigid member having external threads complementary to and engageable with the internal threads of the opening, and means for connecting the rigid member to the yieldable member and for causing the yieldable member to rotate with the rigid member and yield to form threads mating tightly with the internal threads of the opening when the rigid member is threaded into the opening; a rigid retainer, the yieldable member being positioned between the rigid member and the retainer, and means connecting the retainer to the rigid member; the rigid member, the retainer, and the yieldable member having holes through their centers and the connecting means comprising a stud extending through the holes, the stud having a head on one end bearing against one of either the retainer or the rigid member and having its end opposite the head flanged outwardly and bearing against the other of the retainer or the rigid member.

5. A self-locking and sealing device for adjustably controlling the pressure-seating of a first member against displacement in the chamber of a second member that is provided with an internally-threaded opening thereinto from one end to communicate with said chamber, said device including a relatively inflexible first element provided with peripheral male threads to cooperate with the threads of said opening, a resiliently yiel dab'ly deformable ring superimposed on said first element to cooperably engage said female threads but which is initially of larger external diameter than that of the inner crests of the latter threads, a retainer superimposed on said ring, there being mutually projecting interengaging means between the retainer and ring to prevent relative rotation between the retainer and ring, and means permanently interlocking said retainer and first element together as an integral unit and whereby said device may be operably adjusted.

6. A self-locking adjustable screw device for repeatable installation in a threaded opening comprising a follower member having a resiliently yieldable cylindrical unt-hreaded side Wall larger in diameter than the minor diameter of the internal threads of the said opening, and a rigid member positioned axially adjacent to the follower member, the rigid member having external threads complementary to and engageable with the internal threads of the opening, and means for connecting the rigid member to the follower member and for causing the latter member to rotate with the rigid member and yield to form threads on its cylindrical side wall mating tightly with the internal threads of the opening when the rigid member is threaded into the opening, and a retainer means rigidly connected to said follower member and rigid member to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

7. A self-locking adjustable screw device for repeatable installation in a threaded opening comprising a follower member having a resiliently yieldable cylindrical unthreaded side wall larger in diameter than the minor diameter of the internal threads of said opening, and a rigid member positioned axially adjacent to the follower member, the rigid member having external threads complementary to and engageable with the internal threads of the opening, and means for connecting the rigid member to the follower member and for causing the latter memher to rotate with the rigid member and yield to form threads on its cylindrical side wall mating tightly With the internal threads of the opening when the rigid member is threaded into the opening, the leading edge of the side of the follower member which first enters the opening being of a reduced diameter to facilitate its entry into the opening and then starting of threaded formation in the side wall of the follower member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Rimmelspacher et a1. 220-39 WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

10 D. LAMBERT, Assistant Examiner. 

6. A SELF-LOCKING ADJUSTABLE SCREW DEVICE FOR REPEATABLE INSTALLATION IN A THREADED OPENING COMPRISING A FOLLOWER MEMBER HAVING A RESILIENTLY YIELDABLE CYLINDRICAL UNTHREADED SIDE WALL LARGER IN DIAMETER THAN THE MINOR DIAMETER OF THE INTERNAL THREADS OF THE SAID OPENING, AND A RIGID MEMBER POSITIONED AXIALLY ADJACENT TO THE FOLLOWER MEMBER, THE RIGID MEMBER HAVING EXTERNAL THREADS COMPLEMENTARY TO AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INTERNAL THREADS OF THE OPENING, AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE RIGID MEMBER TO THE FOLLOWER MEMBER AND FOR CAUSING THE LATTER MEMBER TO ROTATE WITH THE RIGID MEMBER AND YIELD TO FORM THREADS ON ITS CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL MATING TIGHTLY WITH THE INTERNAL THREADS OF THE OPENING WHEN THE RIGID MEMBER IS THREADED INTO THE OPENING, AND A RETAINER MEANS RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID FOLLOWER MEMBER AND RIGID MEMBER TO PREVENT RELATIVE ROTATION THEREBETWEEN. 